Brisbane Roar sign Socceroo Jade North

BRISBANE Roar have strengthened their backline with the signing of Socceroos defender Jade North.

North, 31, has joined the club on a three-and-a-half-year deal, and is set to partner Roar skipper Matt Smith in the heart of Brisbane's defence.

"I'm looking forward to putting one foot forward and contributing to the legacy Brisbane Roar has created over the past two seasons and doing all I can to help add to the trophy cabinet," said North, a former Brisbane Strikers star who last year played for Japanese club Consadole Sapporo.

"For me it's exciting to know I will be playing in front of family and friends, but most importantly for the city which groomed me as a player."

North has vast A-League experience, having led Newcastle Jets to the 2008 title and also having played for Wellington Phoenix.

But he won't be available for Brisbane's clash against the Jets on Saturday night and will train with his new teammates for the first time next Tuesday.

North's signing came on the same day that midfielder Rocky Visconte was released by the Roar, allowing him to join Western Sydney Wanderers.

Midfield hardman Erik Paartalu's exit is also imminent, possibly before the Roar's clash against the Jets at Hunter Stadium this weekend.

Paartalu, who has started in 84 consecutive A-League and AFC Champions League matches since joining the Roar in 2010, is set to accept a lucrative offer from a Chinese Super League club .

The Roar will also lose winger Nick Fitzgerald - almost certainly to Central Coast Mariners - at the end of the season.

But Brisbane's Australian under-20 fullback Corey Brown seems set to have his fulltime youth team deal upgraded to an A-League contract after deciding against a move to the Jets.

The Roar also have a visa spot available following last month's departure of Japanese defender Yuji Takahashi.

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